Is this possible? Yes it is. Today our heating and air conditioning systems allow us to add on accessories that do more than just heat or cool our home. With our homes being built more energy efficient we now have a new problem where we are not getting air changes. These air changes are vital for many reasons. However, if we were to simply open windows or add fresh air intake ducts we would decrease the efficiency of our homes and add unwanted air pollution from outside into the home.

There are many components that can be added to almost any home. A true air quality system is made up several items; an air cleaner or high quality filter, an ERV or HRV, UV light, Humidifier and HEPA unit.

Air Filter or Air Cleaner.

These are designed to keep your heating and cooling system cleaner than a typical throw away filter. Keeping your furnace and blower system clean will aid in its efficiency and help reduce breakdowns. One added benefit in many of these better air filtration systems is that they are designed to remove particles that are not seen by the naked eye. One of the best air cleaners on the market today is the Micro Power Guard air cleaner.

UV Light

There are many bandwidths of ultra violet energy. We know that the sun produces a very high bandwidth of ultra violet energy that can actually kill airborne germs and other pollutants in the atmosphere. We will never be able to produce UV energy as strong as the sun but we can produce UV light that will kill, sterilize or neutralize germs and airborne bacteria. Many homeowners invest money in filtration but ignore options that will help eliminate the contaminants that are too small for filters to capture. UV lights are affordable and do work. Holland Home Services offers the best in the market place with the strongest bulbs and adjustable low level ozone. Don’t be fooled by gimmick products. At Holland Home Services we guarantee that you will be satisfied with our product offerings or we will return 100% of your investment – NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

ERV or HRV

An ERV or HRV are designed to give you the air changes your home needs without raising the utility bill more than a few percents. Many homes in northern climates experience moisture on windows during the winter time. This moisture is not always a humidity problem. It’s most likely a dew point issue and more in line with air tight home syndrome. If your home does not breathe you can experience many challenges like moisture on the windows.

H.E.P.A.

HEPA air filtration. Think of HEPA air filtration as air scrubbing. H.E.P.A. stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. HEPA is the only filter that actually must be laboratory tested to be a true HEPA. The most common way to install a HEPA system in your home is too have it connected in a bypass configuration. There are some methods where the filters can be installed without a bypass system but again bypass is the most common and many times the most effective.

H.E.P.A. Air Scrubbers do such a great job that a typical furnace motor and blower is not capable of moving the required amount of air through a H.E.P.A. system; this is why most H.E.P.A units have their own motor. The basics of what you need to understand about air scrubbing is … if you want the cleanest air possible with odor removal H.E.P.A. is the absolute best way to achieve this. There is no filtration system on the market that can achieve 99.97% efficiency down to .3 microns. 1 micron = 25,000 of one inch.

Humidification

Humidification is the method used to add moisture to the air in your home. In northern climates during certain times of winter many homes become dry requiring the adding of moisture. This can be done by using a whole house humidifier. There are many benefits to having the proper amount of moisture in the home. In Wisconsin, we recommend a 30% to 45% humidity level depending on whether you have hardwood floors, musical instruments and or art and collectibles.

There are also health benefits that go with maintaining the proper amount of humidity. Research shows that maintaining the correct humidity levels can reduce nose bleeds and dry skin. Humidifiers can also reduce static shocks and static associated with clothing. Two humidifiers we offer at Holland Home Services are Aprilaire and Honeywell.

The information contained in this article have been written for the HVAC industry public or private and are not to copied, reproduced or plagiarized without the written consent of the author. News publications and trade organizations interested in using content contained in this blog/article can contact Steve Holland at Holland Home Services at the Contact Us section of this site.